shutdown

noun

ˈshət-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce shutdown (audio)
Definition of shutdownnext
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity the factory resumed operation after a brief shutdown for repairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shutdown That phrase emerged from video game communities who have been frustrated by disappearing purchases, digital storefronts, server shutdowns, and software licenses that resemble rentals for a long, long time. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026 One French politician likened the shutdown to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while a British lawmaker said that hospitals and researchers had lost access to crucial technology overnight. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 July 2026 Tobias Myers tossed two innings in relief of Scott and allowed just one run before Brooks Raley tossed a shutdown eighth. — James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026 The Sears at Town Center mall shuttered in 2018 as part of a mass shutdown of Sears and Kmart stores across the United States. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shutdown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shutdown
  1. cessation
  2. halt
  3. ending
  4. closure
  5. end
  6. close
  7. conclusion
Noun
  • Freight rates rose rapidly in May as carriers added more fuel surcharges and general rate increases amid the war in Iran and near-cessation of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 30 June 2026
  • Now its people should rise up and demand a cessation of cruelty that threatens to paint another stain of shame on the legacy of this great nation.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of cessation
Noun
  • Crowds slowed the bus to a halt through central Oslo, forcing it to reverse at one point as police escorts struggled to carve out a path.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 14 July 2026
  • Nadezhdin, a former liberal lawmaker who openly called for a halt to the conflict in Ukraine, sought to run against Putin in a 2024 presidential vote.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Definition of halt
Noun
  • Lakshmi and her husband, Manu, are Star City’s best (only) hope for an eventual happy ending!
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Here’s a breakdown of each character’s messy back story and the show’s surprisingly happy ending.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • Iran’s closure and America’s subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz locked in a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Miles of security fencing now surround the National Mall, with extensive road closures and airport-style screening at entrances to both the Great American State Fair and the Salute to America event.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Definition of closure
Noun
  • Sharp, a rookie second-round draft pick from Houston, continued to impress at both ends of the floor with big shots and big stops on defense.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • But stepping out of the Georgia prison proved not to be the end of the uphill battle the father of two faced after his wrongful conviction.
    — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of end
Noun
  • The two world-class performers shared a sweet, genuine moment onstage as the song came to a close.
    — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026
  • Its new price target of $7 suggests 46% upside from Friday’s close.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of close
Noun
  • The event offered a diverse mix of finishes and decisions, providing plenty of action beyond the main event's abrupt conclusion.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Yet, just hours after the conclusion of the second day of the NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets said goodbye to the LaMelo Ball era, sending him to Minnesota for Naz Reid even though the star guard loved it in the Carolinas.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026
Definition of conclusion

Browse Nearby Words

shut
shutdown
shutdowns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shutdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shutdown. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on shutdown

Nglish: Translation of shutdown for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of obdurate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All